'Imfolozi' the heart of the Zulu Kingdom, the home of the White Rhino, where wilderness trails take you along mighty rivers wandering through thorn savannah inhabited by the big five of African legend. Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park is the oldest game reserve in Africa proclaimed in 1895. Imfolozi Game Reserve is located in northern KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.

In the past the area was the exclusive hunting preserve of the Zulu kings who protected the area by proclaiming conservation laws long before any formal protection. The game pits in which animals were trapped can still be seen today.

Game viewing is the prime attraction. Viewing hides overlook pans and waterholes enabling visitors to see animals at close range. As the home of "Operation Rhino" in the 1950s and 60s, the Park became world renowned for its White Rhino conservation.

Other areas of focus for which it is famed include its wilderness trails which origionated in Imfolozi in the 1950s and its renowned Game Capture unit recently upgraded into the Centenary Capture Centre which is a bench mark for animal capture and sustainable utilization in Africa.

Accommodation is available at 3 bush lodges and 1 camp. Imfolozi Game Reserve is located less than 3 hours' drive from Durban.

MPILA CAMP: Centrally situated in the Imfolozi section of the combined Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park, Mpila Camp commands magnificent views of the Wilderness area.

Twelve single-room thatched rest huts accommodate four people each. This section of the camp is self-catering and guests prepare their own food in a central kitchen.

Communal ablution blocks are situated close by. Mpila also has two self-contained 3-bedroomed cottages, each accommodating seven people, with a cook on hand to prepare food supplied by guests.

For smaller groups, there are also six self-catering chalets which accommodate five people each. These have two bedrooms, a bathroom, kitchen, and a lounge/diningroom.

The Safari Tented Camp at Mpila consists of seven 2-bedded and two 4- bedded units, all with bathroom en-suite. An optional third bed is available in each tent on request. Each unit has a verandah and is electrified. A fully equipped kitchen and dining area is connected to each tent by a wooden boardwalk. Barbecue facilities are available. These units are self-catering and are serviced daily.

Petrol is available, and curios, cool drinks and camera film can be purchased from the Mpila Camp Shop, but no provisions or restaurant facilities are provided.

MASINDA LODGE: Masinda Lodge is a self-catering lodge situated in the northern section of the Imfolozi Game Reserve and commands panoramic views over the bushveld and rocky ridges to the south. Renowned for its rich and diverse wildlife, the park teems with a wide variety of fascinating fauna and flora including elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion, leopard, blue wildebeest, giraffe, cheetah, hyena, warthog and over 300 bird species. The roars of lion are often heard at night as guests congregate around the campfire drinking in the unique and magical sounds of the bush!

Masinda has been extensively re-furbished, offering three luxurious en-suite bedrooms featuring a decor rich in African art and craft design, reflecting the artistry of the local Zulu people. The services of a cook and an attendant are provided to prepare the food you bring.

GQOYENI BUSH LODGE: Elevated on a peninsula overlooking the confluence of the Black Mfolozi River and the Gqoyeni Stream, this bush lodge offers excellent game viewing opportunities in an ideal setting.The lounge offers uninterupted views of the sand banks and reed beds of the river which is a favourite drinking spot for family groups of elephants where youngsters mock battle and play in the sand and water of this "beach".

Lone buffalo bulls appear and disappear into the thick reed beds and on cold mornings lions lie out on the sand to bask in the warm sun. The four two bed units, each with a shower and toilet en-suite, are linked with the lounge and dining area by wooden boardwalks. Visitors needs are attended to by staff who cook and clean and a field ranger who, on request, takes visitors on walks through the African bush.

Visitors must bring food for the meals they want and the drinks of their choice. Our cooks can produce a variety of tasty meals to suit the bush lodge life style. Limited supplies of food and drink can be purchased at the shop at Mpila Camp which is a half hours drive away. Bush camps and lodges only cater for one party at a time so for the period of your stay it becomes your home on the edge of an african river. Umfolozi is a malaria area so suitable precautions must be taken.

HLATIKULU BUSH LODGE: Elevated on a terrace overlooking the Black Mfolozi River, this bush lodge is situated in the heart of the park and provides excellent opportunities for walks into a part of Imfolozi that most people never see. The lodge is situated in a well grown stand of umThombothi trees in a park like setting with the grass grazed short by the resident group of white rhino.

The view from the deck stretches down across the Black Mfolozi River where crocodiles and hippos occur and as you sip your early morning coffee or gather for sundowners in the evening you can see a variety of animals make their way out of the surrounding bush to drink cautiously from the edge of the river.

Four two bed units with en-suite shower and toilet are linked by wooden walkways to a central living area. Visitors' needs are attended to by staff who cook and clean and a field ranger who, on request, takes visitors on walks through the African bush. Visitors must bring food for the meals they want and the drinks of their choice.

Our cooks can produce a variety of tasty meals to suit the bush lodge life style. Limited supplies of food and drink can be purchased at the shop at Mpila Camp which is a half hours drive away. Bush camps and lodges only cater for one party at a time so for the period of your stay it becomes your home in the African bush.

Accommodation at Imfolozi Game Reserve is on a self-catering basis, although at some of the bush lodges, chefs are available to prepare meals with the food you provide.

Hluhluwe Imfolozi covers some 96 000 ha and an immense diversity of fauna and flora occurs in this region. Imfolozi, the southern component of the park lies west of the town of Mtubatuba. The region is generally hot in summer, and mild to cool in winter, although cold spells do occur. Larger mammals to be seen include buffalo, blue wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, elephant, and large numbers of impala, waterbuck, common and mountain reedbuck, nyala, kudu, bushbuck, steenbuck, duiker, warthog, black rhino, lion, leopard, cheetah, hyaena and jackal. In excess of 300 species of birds have been recorded.

With its huge diversity of wildlife, landscapes and scenery, the reserve offers many options to its visitors.

AUTO TRAILS: Auto trails in the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park are designed for the convenience of visitors who wish to discover the secrets of the bushveld from seclusion of their own vehicle.

SELF-GUIDED TRAILS: The Imfolozi section of the park has three self-guided foot trails at Emoyeni, Mpila, Enkulu and Masinda Ncane. Guide books are available to help visitors interpret the many points of interest along these trails.

DAY WALKS: Short day walks of approximately two hours are conducted from Mpila and Hilltop Camps under the supervision of an experienced field ranger. These walks may be booked at Reception in both camps.

PICNIC SITES: Several sites with ablution and barbecue facilities are situated throughout the park.

GUIDED GAME DRIVES: Open vehicle night and day drives provide unique opportunities for viewing game. A knowledgeable guide is at hand to answer questions . Booking is at Reception.

WILDERNESS TRAILS: Available from the mid-March to mid-December , Wilderness Trails in Imfolozi offer an unforgettable bush experience. The trail is a three-day hike into the heart of the 30 000 ha Wilderness area. The first and last nights are spent at Mndindini Trails Camp overlooking the White Imfolozi River, while the second and third nights are spent in a tented camp in the heart of the Wilderness area. Trailists are accompanied by an experienced game ranger through this utterly unspoilt terrain. All food is included in the tariff.

WEEKEND WILDERNESS TRAILS: Weekend wilderness trails begin at 13h30 on Friday afternoons and end on Sunday afternoons , with two nights spent at tented camp in the bush. Designed for those unable to find time for the full wilderness trail, these value-for -money trails cost half the price of the traditional trail, and are also run from mid-March to mid-December.

BOAT TOURS ON THE HLUHLUWE DAM: A 45 seater boat takes visitors on twice daily guided tours on Hluhluwe Dam. The trips are conducted by an experienced community guide and visitors can see interesting birds and animals within the park while the Zulu culture is covered in the community areas outside.

Please note: A daily conservation levy of R120.00 per adult per day and R45.00 per child under 12 years per day is payable. Children under 3 years - no charge.This replaces the park permit fee at this park.

Low Season: Discounted rates applies Sunday to Thursday inclusive, provided it is out of school holidays and not over long weekends (public holiday on Thursday, Friday, Monday and Tuesday), or during special events. Pensioner discount still applies but commission is not paid in low season.